In This Issue
An arctic odyssey: Como Zoo’s Polar Bear Odyssey takes shape
Say the word ‘zoo’ and most Twin Citians think of the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, but the City of St. Paul’s Como Park Zoo & Conservatory predates the ‘new zoo’ by several decades. If you haven’t visited the Como Park Zoo in years—or ever—you should be pleasantly surprised by the Zoo in several ways. And if you can ‘bear’ to part with just a few extra ‘bucks,’ you will help create a chunk of Hudson Bay less than two miles from Metropolitan State’s Midway campus. The Odyssey begins…While Como Park Zoo’s polar bears are ’vacationing’ out of town, construction continues toward the spring 2010 opening of Polar Bear Odyssey. A major upgrade over their old space, Polar Bear Odyssey will give the bears a natural environment where they will be able to forage, fish, swim, live and even dig as they naturally would in the wild...
America's earliest inhabitants: Celebrating National American Indian Heritage Month
The word "Indian" was derived from Italian explorer Christopher Columbus who mistakenly thought he had arrived in the Indies upon setting eyes on the Native American people. Presumed to settle on American turf 20-30,000 years ago, Native Americans traveled passing through a land-bridge across Bering Sound from Siberia to (what eventually came to be) Alaska. During the 16th century, the time of the European arrivals, it's been estimated that 10-90 million Native Americans had already inhabited America. They diverged into a wide array of tribes as they voyaged across the region. Often coined as "resilient," Native Americans became accustomed to changing environments, and took great advantage of nature's resources. They were firm believers in placing their land at a high esteem, and properly utilizing...
New minor in technical communication
There’s an option for students who want to enhance their technical writing skills with the new technical communication minor available fall 2009 at Metropolitan State University. The technical communication minor will require 20 credits, which will include Technical Writing (WRIT 271), Document and Information Design (WRIT 372) and Writing and Designing for the Web (WRIT 573). An additional class or two will be added to the minor by the time it is offered. “The technical communication minor is an enhancement to a student’s major,” said Victoria Sadler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of the Technical Communication Program. The minor program is designed to improve students’ practical communication skills by teaching them how to identify their audience and determine the best approach to communicate the information, whether it be a computer document, a Web document or a hard copy. The program will also help them communicate to their peers, bosses...
Understand the Academic Standing Policy
I was sitting on my couch, frantically editing a paper for my Writing for Magazines class. I was also recovering from the flu. Despite my preventative efforts, I still got sick, missed two classes and fell behind in my assignments. As I keyed my fingers raw, I grew worried: “Am I ever going to get this work done?” My worry turned to frustration and then anger. I shut my laptop, sighed deeply and said to myself, “I’m done with this class!” The next day I withdrew. While I relieved myself of the stress of falling behind, I still remained angry. If I had just had a few extra days, then maybe I might have caught up. Come to think of it, if I hadn’t gotten sick, could I have kept up anyway? Was my planning good enough? Meanwhile, my remaining class kept me plenty busy and I was able to focus my efforts and earn...
SSC Corner - Students for Social Change
So, you think the political season is over? Think again.?Whatever the outcome of the election is, this election has been about change. People want it, politicians on both sides promised it. However, once elected, Obama or McCain will be President of the United States; not just the blue states or the red states. They will, or should be, inclined to act by the will of the people; not just acting in their own interests. Even the most powerful president cannot accomplish much without the force of the people behind him or her. Lyndon Johnson would not have signed the Civil Rights Act without the civil rights movement. Lincoln would not have announced the Emancipation Proclamation without the abolitionists pushing for it. This election has inspired millions to work together for social change. This movement must continue, and it will. We must stand up for what we believe in, left or right, up or down; we have a duty as citizens to reclaim our “democracy” and make our voices heard to create a true participatory democracy. So, as Henry David Thoreau said, “Vote not with a slip of paper...
Metro State Votes ‘08
KSTP Eyewitness News visited Metropolitan State University’s St. Paul campus on Oct. 19 to film the “Vote 2008 Townhall Meeting.” Moderated by Tom Hauser and featuring a full house of MSU students, faculty and friends, the town hall meeting allowed those in attendance to ask questions of several prominent Minnesota politicians. The meeting was a part of the “Metro State Votes ‘08” campaign. The movement to get students to vote has included faculty “teach-ins” where professors and guests lecture on prominent issues such as healthcare, the environment and the somewhat more esoteric “apathetic electorate.” The activities have served to include students and community members in civic activity, which was in play at the town hall meeting. Hauser opened the meeting with Dean Barkley, the Independent Senate candidate and only one to agree to appear. Barkley focused much of his answers on his 18 percent standing in the polls behind Norm Coleman (R) and Al Franken (D), but cites that he has spent only $750,000 on his campaign (versus over $30 million combined by the Franken and Coleman...
GOTV: Get Out The Vote
The Student Senate sent in over 300 voter registrations cards. The cards were filled out at various events and some dropped off at the Senate office. Students were thankful that they could register easily and that they did not have to go to the post office to get the forms. The forms were available on every campus.
The final push was the GOTV concert, featuring the P.O.S. Group as entertainment. More cards were filled out at the event and sent in by the Oct. 14 deadline. P.O.S. put on a strong show and everyone had a great time. Even some of the neighbors showed up for the event and registered to vote. Thanks go to Senator Chad Fredricks, the primary planner of the event. He did most of the leg-work that made it all happen. The rain stayed away and the 80 degree weather made it a perfect day...
Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World exhibit
Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World, a national traveling photo exhibit raising awareness about plants and animals threatened by climate change, will open Oct. 25 at the Water and Oil art gallery in St. Paul as part of its nationwide tour to raise awareness about the threat to wildlife from climate change and global warming. The exhibit comes to Minnesota as part of a one-year tour with stops already completed in Providence, Missoula, Seattle, San Diego and San Francisco. The exhibit will be on display through Nov. 30.
Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World is a collaboration of art, justice, science and faith groups that aims to inspire hope, wonder and action through the beauty and power of images. Featuring work by award-winning wildlife conservation photographers, the 40-print exhibit brings the public face-to-face with the wildlife most threatened by climate change.?The Irreplaceable exhibit is co-sponsored by Earthjustice, Noah Alliance, Restoring Eden, International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) and Conservation International’s Center for...
Enrollment increases by nearly 3 percent
Growing numbers of students of color and high school students taking college courses helped boost enrollment at the 32 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities by nearly 3 percent over the last year, officials said today as they released enrollment figures. This fall, the state college and university system has 186,150 students, an increase of 5,302 students from last fall’s enrollment of 180,848. Last year, enrollment increased by 4.5 percent. “This modest enrollment increase reflects both the changing demographics of Minnesota and a growing interest in college courses among high school students,” said Chancellor James H. McCormick. “We have been working hard to increase access to higher education. Our new and expanded programs to recruit and retain students, particularly from underrepresented groups, may be bearing fruit. We must make sure more young people complete high school and enroll in a post-secondary program to ensure Minnesota remains competitive.” The number of students of color this fall grew by 8.6 percent, from 25,273 to 27,446, while enrollment of white students was up 2.6 percent. In recent years, the colleges and universities have expanded programs to recruit and retain more students from underrepresented groups—students of color, low-income students and students who are the first in their families to attend college. These programs help students better prepare for college and succeed...
Metropolitan State professor writes book on digital divide
The explosion in information technology has triggered a concurrent boom in access to digital information globally. At least that’s evident for most white males. But that’s not been so apparent for women and people of color. Why that gap occurs and what can be done about it are at the heart of a new book written by Mary Kirk, Ph.D., Metropolitan State University First College associate professor in Individualized, Interdisciplinary and Lifelong Learning. Her recently released book (IGI Global, Hershey, Penn.) is titled “Gender and Information Technology: Moving Beyond Access to Co-Create Global Partnership.” Kirk notes that the digital revolution is sparking a major cultural shift. But since women and people of color remain underrepresented as technology developers, users and beneficiaries, they have less say in the direction of that shift. “As I have learned more and watched the growth of information technology globally, I became increasingly concerned about the gap between the haves and have-nots worldwide,” said Kirk, whose doctoral studies focused on women and computing...
Here’s to hope
In 1999, I earned a B.A. in Psychology from a nationally ranked liberal arts school. I firmly believed my academic dues were paid. But after nine years in the workforce, I am returning to academia –1) Because I want to; 2) Because it’s necessary. Many of the jobs I’ve had since college, mostly in the field of customer service, administration and retail, are those I may have qualified for had I never pursued any further education after high school. What happened to the prestige of a college degree? When I was young, it appeared that few went on to college. Higher learning was an unusual and elite path, something respected, admired and outstandingly unique on a resume. Now, possession of a college degree appears to be the norm. The workforce is currently made up of individuals competing with each other for limited jobs, paychecks and dreams. In an attempt to add a distinguishing feature among my ordinary accomplishments, I’ve returned to school. And I am terrified. I’m afraid of the huge responsibility of this investment...
Native American art exhibit opens
Metropolitan State University Third Floor Gallery is pleased to present Common Ground: New Work by Julie Buffalohead and Jim Denomie. This two-person exhibition, featuring the paintings of local Native American artists, examines ethnic heritage and personal narratives in contemporary America. Although the painting style varies greatly between the two artists, there exists a shared interest in Native storytelling. From Buffalohead’s explorations of her biracial identity to Denomie’s searing social commentaries, the show provides a multitude of thought-provoking imagery. Regarding her work, Buffalohead has said, “In terms of visual images, a large number of non-Indians’ conceptions of Indians are stereotypes. This has intrigued, angered and horrified me. Therefore what can be stated about my artwork ought to be understood in terms as being informed by this phenomenon. The direction that my artwork has led me has been toward the review and dissipation of the myths that these images have conjured.” More recently, Buffalohead’s work has become more introspective as she awaits the arrival of her first child...
New play opens Nov. 13
Home Land Security, a world premiere play by D.K. Iversen, opens at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, at Metropolitan State University’s Minneapolis Campus in the Whitney Stagedoor Theater. From leaving home and breaking in, to farm policies, foster children and Federal Protective Services, Home Land Security uses black comedy to explore the intergenerational effects of war revisited on Mamie Jorgensen’s family farm in Blue Earth, Minn.—first as a daughter in the 1960s struggling to make sense of the effects of war on her mother, as a wife and mother in the 1980s holding a family together alone, and finally, to the current day threat of her daughter being sent to Iraq. “I felt compelled to write this play,” said playwright Iversen, “with a number of images and ideas in mind, beginning with a palpable sensation of the need for mercy, especially regarding the impact of our actions on children. This play allows a kind of black humor...
Sport Explorations: Fencing
The swords weren’t sharp, but my mind needed to be razor keen. My opponent lunged, her form and face disguised by a white jacket and sturdy fencing mask, but her intent glaringly obvious: to jab me in the ribs with her thinmetal blade. I danced back and parried the blow. With a swift twirl, she spun her deflected blade around mine in a coupé move and thrust it at my shoulder. I struck the sword aside and lunged at her in return—a parry riposte. She leaped out of range, then leaped back in. Her weapon zipped toward my left side and I moved to block it. But it was a feint! The dull, rounded tip of her sword jarred me on the right side and light blinked on the scoreboard above. I grimaced with frustration. One more bruise for me, one more point for her. I was practice-bouting with a fellow student at...