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Keeping up with Professor Emeritus Frank Schmalleger

When Dr. Frank Schmalleger retired 10 years ago, he left as one of the most celebrated scholars in the history of the University.

Published in 1991 and in its eighth printing, his textbook, “Criminal Justice Today,” is the best-selling college textbook in its field.

With 16 years as chair of the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice, Dr. Schmalleger was a popular teacher too, earning a 1983 Indianhead yearbook dedication and the praise of students for being a professor who “makes coming to school worthwhile.”

A home on the resort Hilton Head Island, S.C., sounds like a dream for the youngest Professor Emeritus in University history. Retirement was never part of the plan for Dr. Schmalleger. And at age 57, it still is not part of his plans.

Since leaving the University, Dr. Schmalleger has written numerous books and textbooks. He lectures throughout the United States and is Webmaster of several sites. He is also founder and co-director of the Criminal Justice Learning Consortium, a foundation for distance learning in criminal justice.

The following is an email interview with Dr. Schmalleger this summer shortly after he relocated with his family to their new home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.:

Health. I am in fine health - although I've given up exercising and taken up dining as a hobby. I used to run and play tennis (a lot). I haven't gained much weight, but eating is a lot more fun than running, so I think I'll stick with my new avocation.

Re-married. My wife is Harmonie Schmalleger - a Lumberton “girl,” who used to own All Occasions (Gift Shop) in the Lumberton mall. My first wife (Celene) passed away when I was at UNCP, and I remarried around the time I retired. I have a daughter, Nicole, who has a house nearby here in Florida, and two granddaughters: Malia, four, and Ava, two months.

The trademark yellow Corvette. No more Corvette .. although I understand that the one I used to drive to the UNCP campus is still on the roads of Robeson County. I hear that it is now a “classic” and has won some awards in car shows.

New Palm Beach address. We lived on Hilton Head Island for 10 years after retiring. We had a great spot on the harbor of the South Carolina Yacht Club, and you could come to our house by boat or by car. The harbor is always kept at high tide by a lock system. While I love boats, my wife would say that we lived on a parking lot. She’s the one who wanted to move, and South Florida has a lot to offer. The spot we are in is where the new Scripps Institute is coming to. It will be an east coast campus of the world famous Scripps Institute in La Jolla, Calif., and the development is anticipated to bring as many as 40,000 jobs to the area over the next 15 years. The hope is that the Palm Beach Gardens area will become another Research Triangle - this one focusing on biomedical research. I’m particularly interested in biomedical aspects of criminal behavior and am exploring the possibility of affiliating with Scripps in some capacity.

Campus memories. When I came to UNCP, it was a dynamic place - a small college that was on the verge of greatness. It was called PSU back then and had a lot of potential. I found professors with vision, students who brought enthusiasm to the classroom and administrators who were grappling with the changes sweeping the campus. We (my fellow faculty members and I) fought budgetary constraints and stodgy attitudes in the minds of some mid-level administrators, hoping to fulfill the promise of what then seemed like heady times. While not everything that I had hoped to achieve for the school was possible then, I understand that the University is receiving ever-greater recognition as a quality institution of higher-learning, and I applaud the University administration, faculty, staff and students for all they are doing and for all they have become.

I'll always remember my good friends, Tom Ross and Steve Marson, who, I understand, are both still teaching; and my wonderful helper, Wanda Hammonds, secretary in the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice. I can’t imagine how I would have been able to teach, write, and chair a department for 16 years without Wanda’s help.

Retirement. I'm probably working harder now than ever before. I've written more than 40 books if you count each edition of my "major" texts separately. I have been called upon to give lots of talks - as many as one a week, all of them in different parts of the country .. although that is not a schedule that I can keep up. “BTW: Criminal Justice Today,” the text that I started with, and which is now in an eighth edition, became the number-one-selling textbook in the justice field a few years ago. It has now sold more copies than any other book ever published in the justice field and sales continue to grow as more and more criminal justice programs are developed. A conservative estimate says that my textbooks are in the hands of over 100,000 students every year .. with even more using the Web sites and simulations CDs that support those texts.

My emphasis in my writing has been on two things: (1) individual rights versus the need for safety and security in society, and (2) professionalism. Hence, my text, ”Corrections in the 21st Century,” (co-authored with John Smykla at the University of Alabama, and just out in its second edition) highlights the need for continued professional development in the corrections field.

Interestingly, another text that I write, “Criminal Law Today” (now going into a third edition) caught the attention of the attorney general of China. He wanted to put it into the hands of every law student in China so that they could understand American criminal law. I don’t know what ever happened to that arrangement, but I've heard from attorneys in India that it is also known there.

Influences. When I came to UNCP, academic criminal justice was a developing field throughout the country, and the University tasked me with creating courses and developing a program in that discipline. Student interest was high, and we had a lot of fun talking about things that no one had ever talked about before - at least not from an academic perspective. Crime was ever-present in Robeson County (as everywhere), and I quickly became associated with Joe Freeman Britt, who was then the county's district attorney. Mr. Britt was then listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the prosecutor who had more people on death row than any other prosecutor in the free world. His rather hard-nosed perspectives on justice influenced the way I thought about crime and punishment. Although I had many special students, one of them, Garth Locklear, who was then the chief homicide investigator for the Robeson County Sheriff’s Department, was another influential person in my life. Garth brought with him a personal respect for the underdog and taught me that we have a duty to help the offenders whom we lock up. I've always found that I could learn from my students, and Garth was certainly one of my best teachers.

CHINA TRIP
‘Cross Talk’: Sharing knowledge, language, culture and friendship

Editors Note: James Bass is assistant director of Student Activities and composition instructor in the Department of English, Theatre and Languages. This summer he traveled to China to teach and learn at UNCP’s partner university, the North China Institute of Science and Technology in Yanjiao, a suburb of East Beijing. Bass, who is a Lumberton native and 1994 graduate, learned a lot about Chinese people and culture. In his words, here are some of this thoughts:

By James Bass

Cross Talk is the name of one of China’s most beloved forms of entertainment. Two comedians bounce jokes off each other, and tell old stories to the laughter of an audience. This entertainment is the closest thing to American standup comedy, and what makes it truly funny is the comedians’ use of provincial dialects, which is basically the same as telling a joke with a “Southern” or “Northern” American accent to achieve a comic effect. Cross Talk is quite popular on Chinese radio stations, and students at colleges throughout the country enjoy performing for their friends in talent shows and student activities events.

Learning all about Cross Talk was very important for me since I was in China to find out more about student programs at North China Institute of Science and Technology while teaching English to students and faculty there. I got the chance to see Cross Talk performed by students at the university, which was quite funny, even if you can’t understand everything they say, however, by the end of my visit in China, “Cross Talk” took on a new meaning for me. Cross Talk is the best expression I can think of to sum up my exchange experience with one of UNCP’s international education partners. It’s the best way to describe the sharing of knowledge, language, culture and friendship.

Culture

China has thousands of years of culture and history. For Westerners, it is a country full of curious customs and practices. One month (the duration of my stay) is not long enough to see all of the sites, learn all of the history, and understand the connections they have to the people. In fact, trying to understand many Chinese customs from a Western perspective is very difficult. Take common etiquette for example. Did you know that pointing the spout of a teapot at someone is considered bad luck? And did you know that sticking your chopsticks upright into a bowl of rice is considered bad manners? And did you ever wonder why American Chinese restaurants sometimes have numbers in their names? Like the China 8? Well it’s because the number eight is one of the luckiest of all. And the number nine is the most supreme because it’s the largest single-digit number. The number four is considered unlucky because, when pronounced in Chinese, it sounds like the word for death, and sets of four are considered unlucky.

Students/Teaching

The Chinese learning environment is a little different from our own. First of all, if you attend a university, then you are required to live on campus. Each morning, students are awakened by a loudspeaker and music, then they must get out of bed and spend about an hour engaging in exercise before breakfast. Then, they attend their classes. While in class, the students must remain quiet unless the teacher calls on them, and if they are called upon, they will respectfully stand and ask their question. They remain standing until they are finished being addressed by the teacher.

Teaching English to foreign language students presented its challenges, but with my background in teaching freshman composition, coupled with my experience as student of Spanish, I felt well prepared.

My assignment was to work with the English faculty twice each week for about an hour and a half and to teach a couple of English writing classes for students once each week. Composition classes in China last for almost two hours – two 50-minute sessions divided by a five-minute break.

The Chinese are hungry for knowledge, and the evidence was right in front of me – teachers and students with lots of questions and curiosities about American culture, and the use of everyday English in conversation.

One of my typical classes usually began with a few minutes of questions and answers that ranged from “What is your impression of China?” and “How do you compare your students in America to Chinese students?” to “Do you like Christmas?” and “Do you have a car?” Other students wanted to know things about how easy it is for Americans to buy guns, what the general opinion of the Bush administration is in America, and why was I interested in coming to China…

Before I began working with the Chinese students and faculty, I did my homework. I arranged a meeting with the Chinese teachers to find out what kinds of things they wanted to learn from me, and what ways I could help them. Then, I scheduled times when I could visit English classrooms and observe Chinese teachers and students in action. My final preparation was something that I thought would be beneficial for my students and me – I decided to get a Chinese tutor.

Learning the language

Since my days in high school, I have been learning things about foreign languages, and my interest has grown as I learned more. I studied Spanish for two years in high school, and last year studied Spanish here at UNCP. While I was an undergraduate, I studied German one semester, and even learned a few phrases in Korean and Japanese from international students. But learning Chinese seemed difficult to me, and I was intimidated to learn at first because I discovered that learning Chinese was unlike any other language I had ever encountered. You see, in Chinese, some words have different meanings, based on their pronunciation and the tone of the words. The classic example is “ma,” which can mean “mother” when pronounced one way, or “horse” when pronounced yet another way. “Ma” is also the sound that follows a sentence and lets the listener know that a question is being asked. So naturally, one might imagine my fear of calling someone’s mother a horse!

Before I left for China, I found some Chinese lessons on CD on the Internet, and tried to learn as much as I could. But without practice, I sounded very awkward, and I had very few opportunities to practice. One of my first requests when I arrived at North China Institute of Science and Technology was to get some help. No sooner had I asked than I was teamed with a personal tutor and offered as much help from the University staff as I could handle. I quickly became friends with my assistant, Zhang Xing, an employee from the Department of Foreign Affairs, whose English name is Chuck. Chuck helped me find a tutor and get lessons once per week, and frequently he tested me, and taught me new words.

During my lectures to Chinese faculty, I told them that the best way to learn any language is to throw one’s self into circumstances where communicating in another language is essential (I was speaking to them about theories of immersion that are popular in America). Very soon, I found myself practicing what I was preaching, as I attempted to go shopping for myself and to learn how to get by day to day. Before I knew it, saying hello (ni hao), asking how much something costs (do sha chen), and saying thank you (shei shei) came naturally, and to my surprise, I was easily learning a language I thought inscrutable.

Conclusion

While I was in China, I got to visit a lot of the famous sites, like the Great Wall (every tourist visits the Great Wall), the Forbidden City, and Tianamenn Square, which were all interesting. For me, the biggest thrills came from taking strolls through the streets and markets, where I got to see everyday Chinese life up close, and where I (a stranger in a strange land) learned something about diversity from the other side of the fence, by being “the foreigner.” It was interesting to be in a place where no one could understand my language, and where I was referred to as “Mei Guo Ren” or “the American.” For many, such an experience might feel uncomfortable, but I embraced it – and I am glad that I did. And to all of my new Chinese friends, who helped me learn the language, introduced me to new kinds of food, showed me the sites, taught me the history, and made me feel at home in their country…thanks for the Cross Talk!

Aminah Ghaffar qualifies for Junior Olympic Games

KNOXVILLE, TENN. – Aminah Ghaffer, representing the Angel Elite Track Club of Robeson County, qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa, July 31 through August 7.

Nearly 900 young people from North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama participated in the meet.

Aminah, daughter of Abdul (Student Activities) and Bobbie Ghaffar, won two gold medals in the nine-year-old age group. She claimed gold in the triathlon (high jump, shot put and 200 meters) and set a regional record along the way. Her score of 787 points also topped all competitors from the next age group and currently places her in the top 10 in the country among nine-year olds.

She also picked up a second gold in the long jump, defending her 2003 regional title with a jump of 11 feet 11 3/4 inches. Ghaffar also placed 5th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 31.50 seconds. Finally, she capped off the weekend by making the final in the 100-meter dash and finishing 7th with a time of 15.29 seconds.

Ghaffar will be making her second consecutive trip to the Junior Olympics. Last year, she finished 7th in the long jump. The top eight athletes in each event receive medals.

The Angel Elite Track Club is a division of the Angel Elite Sports Association. For more information contact Abdul Ghaffar at 910-671-7827.

Sylvia Pate interviewed by Business North Carolina

Sylvia Pate (Regional Center) was interviewed for a feature article in the July edition of Business North Carolina magazine.

The article was in a question-and-answer format and concerned research that the University, in conjunction with UNC-Chapel Hill, did on the status of seven state recognized Indian Tribes, including the Lumbee. Pate was co-author of the study.

Pate’s research team found that education and economic support are lacking for the mostly rural tribes that are scattered across the state.

On the issue of the Lumbee Tribe and casinos, Pate said: “The focus of the Lumbee people on full recognition is not about gaming. Their feeling is they are a legitimate tribe, and they should get all the financial benefits from that designation in areas such as health, education and community development, which would ultimately lead to economic development. I don’t think gaming is going to solve all their problems.”

Dr. Reising’s comments find their way to CNN.com

Dr. Robert Reising (English/American Indian Studies) was quoted several times in a July 14 CNN.com article on American Indian sports legend Jim Thorpe. Dr. Reising is a Thorpe expert and created an endowed scholarship in his name at the University.

The article was part of pre-Olympic coverage by CNN. It may be viewed at: http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/07/09/jim.thorpe/

“If there had been endorsements back then, he’d have more than Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan put together,” Dr. Reising told CNN’s Greg Botelho. “He was such an unusual guy, such an eye-catcher.”

Dr. Reising will be a visiting scholar in American Indian Studies at Michigan State University for a second consecutive fall semester. Michigan State is his alma mater.

Tripp Prevatte earns Eagle Scout Award

An Eagle Scout Award ceremony for Tripp Prevatte was held at First Baptist Church of Lumberton on July 18. He is the grandson of Sylvia Edwards (Chancellor’s office).

The Eagle Scout Award is the highest and most coveted award in all of Scouting and the major step in the advancement program. Tripp joins an impressive group of individuals who are also Eagle Scouts, such as former President Gerald Ford, former U. S. Senator Sam Nunn, and astronauts Neil Armstrong and James Lovell.

A Lumberton native, Prevatte began scouting in 1993 as a Tiger Cub in Pack 333 at First Baptist Church. He earned his God and Country Award in 2000, and continued with Boy Scout Troop 86 with the Chestnut Street United Methodist Church in Lumberton.

He has filled many positions, including Assistant Patrol Leader and Patrol Leader. Prevatte earned 41 merit badges although only 21 are required to become an Eagle Scout. He is a member of the Scout’s Camping Honor Society, “Order of The Arrow.”

Prevatte’s Eagle Scout project was to organize and direct a building improvement project for Robeson House, a youth shelter at 215 East 6th Street in Lumberton. In addition to the organization and supervision of the project, he raised money for the purchase of the materials to complete the project.

A 2004 graduate of Lumberton Senior High School, Prevatte will attend North Georgia College and State University this fall. He is the son of Sharon and Eddie Prevatte.

Dr. Bryant publishes paper on Lumbee health

An article by Dr. Alfred Bryant (Education), along with five co-authors, entitled “Health differences among Lumbee Indians using public and private sources of care,” was published in the Journal of Rural Health, 20(3). Bryant, A., Jr., Goins, R. T., Bell, R., Herrell, R., Manson, S., and Buchwald, D. (2004).

Dr. Bryant also presented at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education in Miami in June. His presentation was entitled “Opening Doors: Ensuring Educational Access and Success of American Indian Students With Disabilities in Higher Education.”

Sykes, Walker present at national conference

Misty Sykes and Mary Helen Walker (Disability Support Services) presented at the national conference for Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) in Miami on July 16. Their presentation was titled, “First Year Experience for Freshmen with Disabilities: A Multi-Modal Approach.”

Paper by Dr. Mohammad Ashraf is published

A paper by Dr. Mohammad Ashraf, entitled “Is Female Employment in ‘High-Powered’ Occupations Region Sensitive? Evidence from the 1990 and 2000 Census Data,” was accepted for presentation at the Southern Economic Association Conference to be held Nov. 21-23, 2004.

The works of 21 artists are featured in the “Self Portraits Exhibition” through Aug. 28, 2004 at the Sherry Washington Gallery in Detroit, Mich.

The contributing artists are Janette Hopper (chair of the Art Department), Benny Andrews, Caryn Azoff, David Driskell, Pauline Ender, Marcia Freedman, Lenore Gimpert, Roslyn Grosky, Mary King, Richard Lewis, Victor Littlejohn, Richard Mayhew, Nora Mendoza, Chun Hui Pak, Jefferson Pinder, Jocelyn Rainey, Senghor Reid, Mark Schwing, Gilda Snowden, Nancy Thayer, and Shirley Woodson.

The artists and their portraits converged on downtown Detroit to present a variety of painting metaphors on the gallery’s walls, beckoning viewers to witness how artists view themselves as their most intimate subjects. The presentation of portraits in the show is an insightful juxtaposition of how these artists view themselves as forms of magical hue and other times as splashes of pigment.

Regional Center’s Kids’ College a hit!

The Regional Center for Economic, Community and Professional Development is pleased to announce that the first year of Kids’ College was a great success.

This collaborative venture was designed to improve and expand educational offerings for students who are willing to have fun learning. The program was funded based on the number of registered students. There were approximately 70 participants. To be eligible for participation, a student must be in grades 1 - 4.

The following classes were offered: Amazing Concoctions, Cool Cooking, Drawing for Life, Edible Math, Legomania, Marble-ous Math, Rainmakers, Read! Write! Publish! and Spy Kids. The faculty of Kids’ College consisted of experienced classroom teachers who currently work in the Public Schools.

Kids’ College 2004 was an academic program and not a camp experience. Pictured are just some of the participants.

Birthdays July

Pamela Barkett
Sherrie Brewer
Colleen Brown
Monika Brown
Ronald Bullard
Janita Byars
Suellen Cabe
Chauntel Campbell
Mark Canada
Susan Cannata
Beth Carmical
Sandra Cross
McDuffie Cummings Jr.
Jose D’Arruda
Richard DeParis
Geraldine Dial
Sherry Edwards
Mark Frazier
Janet Gentes
Kevin Graham
Vonda Graham
Linda Greaver
Edward Hedrick
Kathleen Hilton
Doris Horton-Lopez
Tom Jackson
Samuel Jacobs
Betty Johnson
Patricia Johnson
Steven Johnson
Jeanette Jordan-Huffam
Lisa Kelly
Becky Leviner
Brantley Locklear
Charlene Locklear
John D. Locklear
Effie Locklear
Jonathan Maisonpierre
Harold Maxwell
Jane McGirt
Joanne McMillan
Larry McNeill
June Mills
Maurice Mitchell Jr.
Michael Munford
Janetta Obeda
Ina Oxendine
Lynda Parlett
Sam Pearson Jr.
Robert Poage
Rasby Powell
Ellen Revels
Lisa Schaeffer
Cathryn Shooter
Earl Smith
Ray Sutherland
Bruce Thompson Jr.
William Truman
Teresa Tubbs
Melissa Vance
Don Williams

New Hires

Rose Sheffield - housekeeper, Physical Plant
Terry Hunt – housekeeper, Physical Plant
Billie Jones – housekeeper, Physical Plant

Promotion

Vinson Jacobs – mechanic, Physical Plant
Debbie Jacobs - student services manager, Disability Support Services (DSS)
Tabitha Locklear - computer lab coordinator, UCIS
Alice Faye Spaulding - processing assistant IV, Physical Plant
Misty Sykes – coordinator/Student Disability Services
Sheila Prevatte - program assistant IV, School of Business

Transfer

Darlene Dial - Business Services from the Regional Center

Reallocation

Daren Sellers - program assistant V, Music

Permanent pay increases set for next paycheck

The North Carolina General Assembly ratified an across-the-board salary increase, effective July 1, 2004, for SPA employees. The state budget incorporates a pay raise for both SPA and EPA employees. The pay raise for SPA employees will be administered as described below. Information on the pay raise for EPA employees will be provided separately.

Salary Increase

Permanent, SPA, full-time employees and employees who work a nine, 10 or 11-month work schedule will receive an increase of 2.5 percent or $1,000, whichever is greater. For employees whose salary is:

• Below $40,000: the employee's salary will be increased by $1,000.
• $40,000 or above: the employee's salary will be increased by 2.5%.

A pro-rata amount applies for permanent part-time employees.

Eligibility

Employees with permanent, probationary, trainee and time-limited appointments are eligible, as well as those employees whose salaries are at the maximum of their salary grade. The amount of the increase is based upon the employee's salary as of June 30, 2004. The increase does not apply to employees hired effective July 1, 2004 or later or employees separated from state service prior to July 1, 2004.

Employees are eligible for the increase without consideration of performance ratings or disciplinary actions.

Effective Date

This salary increase is effective July 1, 2004. New salary rates and retroactive pay for employees in pay status as of June 30, 2004, are expected to appear in the August paycheck. Permanent SPA employees working part-time will receive a pro-rated increase. Employees on leave without pay (LWOP) as of June 30, 2004, shall receive the increase upon reinstatement.

Additional Information

This increase will cause the state’s SPA salary schedule to increase. Human Resources is reviewing all salary actions that have taken place since July 1, 2004, to see what changes, if any, need to be made.

HR will share additional information as it becomes available.

Increase in employer contribution to 5.815 percent

The employer contribution rate payable for members of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System has been increased, effective July 1, 2004, from 3.42 percent to 5.815 percent of the covered payroll of members. This rate is required under Section 30.16(c) of Chapter 284 of the 2003 session laws, which was ratified on July 17, 2004. Once remitted to this division, these contributions will be deposited as follows:

• Retirement System Pension Fund 2.170 %
• Death Benefit Trust Fund 0
• Retirees’ Health Plan Reserve 3.200 %
• Disability Income Plan .445__
  5.815 %

House Bill 1414 also continued the requirement that an additional five percent employer contribution for state-employed law enforcement officers be remitted to their accounts in the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan. Therefore, the total budgeted employer contribution for law enforcement officers is 10.815 percent.

Change in Employer Contribution Rate for Participants In the Optional Retirement Program (ORP)

The employer contribution rate payable to the Retirement Systems Division for participants in the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) has increased effective July 1, 2004, to 3.645 percent of the covered payroll of participants. This rate is required under Section 30.16(c) of Chapter 284 of the 2003 session laws of the General Assembly which was ratified on July 17, 2004. Once paid over to this division, these contributions will be deposited as follows:

• Retirees’ Health Plan Reserve 3.200%
• Disability Income Plan .445%
  3.645%

Births
Lucy Hammonds (Housing and Residence Life) gave birth of a son, Dylan Kenai, on June 28. Baby Dylan weighed eight pounds and 13 1/2 ounces.

Deaths
Hilda A. Guynn, mother of Dr.Anita Guynn (English), passed away July 8 at her home in Prices Fork, Va.

Thesia Lowery, grandmother of Elaine Deese Brewington (Family Life Center), passed away in early July.

Weddings

Misty Sykes (Disability Support Services) was married to Shane Hardy on July 27 in Bhama, N.C.

The bridal couple honeymooned at Myrtle Beach and Disney World.