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Regents approve new Justice Studies degree New equipment improves planetarium show so unusual, Cameron said, is its development as an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree with foundations in sociology, political science, philosophy, and social work. It does not include what Cameron calls the "cop shop" occupational classes such as handling weapons and fingerprinting. Those are skills that can be and usually are taught to new recruits at state-run law enforcement academies, Cameron said. With an emphasis on law and the social sciences, PSU's Justice Studies degree is one in which students develop an understanding of the nature of justice and analyze controversial justice related issues through'" °itical inquiry and social science investigation. An important emphasis of the program is theories of justice and legal studies. Students can expect to study justice issues relating (see Degree, pg. 4) A star may burn brightly for billions of years, but the equipment it takes to reproduce that light show in a man-made setting quickly ages and becomes obsolete. That is why the Physics Department turned to the L. Russell Kelce Planetarium Maintenance Fund for a major upgrade in planetarium equipment this year. Early this year, the department purchased a Sony CRT video/data Todd VanGordon projects an image of Earth in the Kelce Planetarium. projector, a laserdisc player and several special-effects laser discs. They also purchased a universal theater control system (UTCS). Todd VanGordon, who directs the planetarium programs, said the new equipment has allowed the planetarium to take a major step forward. "Previously, planetarium presentations only involved 35 mrn slides and still pictures," VanGordon said. "The new equipment gives us the capability to use animated images and moving pictures during presentations. We also purchased, with the help of the Pritchett Trust, several special-effects laserdiscs that have a number of animated comets, novae, galaxies, black holes, asteroids, computer generated spacecraft 'fly-bys' of planets, and other phenomena." VanGordon said the new equipment allows one person to operate all of the seven slide projectors at once. The laserdisc/video projector system can be programmed and controlled by a computer, allowing the slide projectors to fade in, fade down, advance slides or tum several or all of the projectors simultaneously. This is a big advantage over mOanual operation, VanGordon said, because "I only have two hands." (see Planetarium, pg. 2) The Department of Social Science's new bachelor of science degree in Justice Studies represents a new approach to the discipline that is rapidly catching on across the country, according to Dr. Kathleen Cameron, a member of the faculty and the person in charge of the new program. The Kansas Board of Regents approved the new degree program this fall. "The interdisciplinary degree is just catching on," Cameron saido "The older programs that focus on occupational training are probably going to die out in favor of degree programs more like ours." Although the degree was just approved this fall, Cameron is already fielding calls and e-mails from across the country from people interested in PSU's new degree. What makes PSU's new Justice Studies degree
Transcript
Page 1: New equipment improves planetarium show

Regents approve new Justice Studies degree

New equipment improves planetarium show

so unusual, Cameron said, is its development as aninterdisciplinary liberal arts degree withfoundations in sociology, political science,philosophy, and social work. It does not includewhat Cameron calls the "cop shop" occupationalclasses such as handling weapons andfingerprinting. Those are skills that can be andusually are taught to new recruits at state-run lawenforcement academies, Cameron said.

With an emphasis on law and the socialsciences, PSU's Justice Studies degree is one inwhich students develop an understanding of thenature of justice and analyze controversial justicerelated issues through'" °itical inquiry and socialscience investigation. An important emphasis ofthe program is theories of justice and legal studies.Students can expect to study justice issues relating

(see Degree, pg. 4)

A star may burnbrightly for billions ofyears, but theequipment it takes toreproduce that lightshow in a man-madesetting quickly agesand becomes obsolete.That is why the PhysicsDepartment turned tothe L. Russell KelcePlanetariumMaintenance Fund fora major upgrade inplanetarium equipmentthis year.

Early this year, thedepartment purchased a

Sony CRT video/data Todd VanGordon projects an image ofEarth in the Kelce Planetarium.projector, a laserdiscplayer and several special-effects laser discs. They also purchased a universal theater control system(UTCS).

Todd VanGordon, who directs the planetarium programs, said the new equipment has allowed theplanetarium to take a major step forward.

"Previously, planetarium presentations only involved 35 mrn slides and still pictures," VanGordonsaid. "The new equipment gives us the capability to use animated images and moving pictures duringpresentations. We also purchased, with the help of the Pritchett Trust, several special-effects laserdiscsthat have a number of animated comets, novae, galaxies, black holes, asteroids, computer generatedspacecraft 'fly-bys' of planets, and other phenomena."

VanGordon said the new equipment allows one person to operate all of the seven slide projectorsat once. The laserdisc/video projector system can be programmed and controlled by a computer,allowing the slide projectors to fade in, fade down, advance slides or tum several or all of theprojectors simultaneously.

This is a big advantage over mOanual operation, VanGordon said, because "I only have two hands."

(see Planetarium, pg. 2)

The Department of Social Science's newbachelor of science degree in Justice Studiesrepresents a new approach to the discipline that israpidly catching on across the country, accordingto Dr. Kathleen Cameron, a member of the facultyand the person in charge of the new program. TheKansas Board of Regents approved the newdegree program this fall.

"The interdisciplinary degree is just catchingon," Cameron saido "The older programs thatfocus on occupational training are probably goingto die out in favor of degree programs more likeours." Although the degree was just approved thisfall, Cameron is already fielding calls and e-mailsfrom across the country from people interested inPSU's new degree.

What makes PSU's new Justice Studies degree

Page 2: New equipment improves planetarium show

NSF grant helps undergraduatesparticipate in original research

A NationalScience Foundationgrant gave a numberof undergraduatestudents a rareopportunity toparticipate inoriginal research atPSU last summer.Traditionally,original research isan area restricted tograduate students,but the NSF,concerned about ashortage of studentschoosing research career paths, hopes programs such as that offered at PSU lastsummer, will encourage more students to consider research careers.

The PSUfNSF Interdisciplinary Materials Research Experiences forUndergraduates Summer Program was under the direction of Dr. Christopher Ibeh,a member of the faculty in the PSU Department of Engineering Technology. Ibehsaid nine applicants from Kansas and Missouri were selected for the program. Theprogram was challenging, Ibeh said, but the students selected were up to thechallenge because "we got the cream of the crop."

Jason Newberry, of Anthony, Kan., was one of those students. Newberryspent his summer doing research on non-linear optical polyurethanes under thesupervision of Dr. Gerald Caple, chairman of the PSU Chemistry Department.

Newberry, ajunior pre-med major, said the research experience broadenedhis horizons.

"This has given me a new insight into research," Newberry said. "It is helpingme decide on my future."

Chris Gab, of Independence, Kan., conducted research on thermaldecomposition studies of polytetrafluoroethylene, under the supervision of RobertPavlis, a member of the faculty in the Department of Chemistry.

Gab, a plastics engineering technology and chemistry major at PSU, said hisresearch has practical applications in the detection of toxic compounds in homesand vehicles.

"It's been really challenging," Gab said. "This has taken me into an area I'venever even looked at."

Students Jonathan Shull, Webb City, Mo.; Ashley Noeller, of Fredonia, Kan.;and Ryan Willis of Oswego, Kan., had similar reactions. Shull looked at themorphology of blended polymers under the direction of Physics DepartmentChairman Dr. Charles Blatchley and Dr. Zoran Petrovic, a member of the facultyand a researcher in PSU's Center for Design, Development and Production.Noeller did research on a combined electrochemical and FT-IR spectroscopicstudy of corrosion of iron and nickel. She was supervised by Dr. Dilip Paul, amember of the faculty in PSU's Department of Chemistry. Willis researched theuse of surface plasmons on thin metal films as a detection method.

Each of the students agreed that the research experience was both challengingand exciting. It is too soon to tell whether this interdisciplinary effort will produceadditional researchers, but both students and faculty agree that the participantshave had opportunities opened to them that they never expected were possible.

2

Planetarium (from pg. 1)

In addition to being an importantteaching tool for university students,the Kelce Planetarium, the onlyplanetarium within a 100-mile radius,is also an important outreach in thefour-state area.

The planetarium offers publicshows every Tuesday and Saturdayduring the acadern'ic year. It is apopular stop for student groups,especially during the field trip times inOctober and in the spring semester.During those peak field trip days,planetarium shows will increase tofour to seven shows per week.

VanGordon said attendance alsoincreases with certain public eventsthat heighten interest in space.

"Last year we had a programdealing with the Mars Pathfinderspacecraft, which was popular,"VanGordon said, "and we had acomet program when the Hale-Boppcomet was around a year or two agothat generated a lot of interest."

VanGordon noted a lot of currentinterest in some of the comet orasteroid disaster movies.

"I'm sure if I had some sort ofdisaster program the interest would behigh," VanGordon said. "I might haveto try something like this, although Iwould like to offer a program differentfrom all of the disaster movies -­something that is not sensationalized."

The new equipment in the L.Russell Kelce Planetarium will helpthe facility improve its programming,but the job of upkeep is a continualone. Routine maintenance of theplanetarium's 35-year-old projector isprovided by the Kelce PlanetariumMaintenance Fund. That ongoingmaintenance is especially important,VanGordon said, when one considersthat the replacement costs todaywould probably begin in the $250,000to $300,000 range.

The day will inevitably come whenreplacing the planetarium's projectorwill have to be considered. In themeantime, however, equipmentupgrades are helping the initial 1963planetarium investment open up thehorizons to thousands of students andcampus visitors every year.

Page 3: New equipment improves planetarium show

Chemistry puts new technologyin undergraduate hands

Chemistry students use the departments new NMR instrument.

On a typical, quiet afternoon in the Chemistry Department, two students are busyrunning an experiment on a polymer. It is not likely that they have given muchthought to their unusual situation.

"Two undergraduate students, unsupervised, working on a quarter-million-dollarpiece of equipment," Dr. Gerald Caple, chairman of the Chemistry Department,notes as he opens the door. "There probably isn't another institution in Kansas, ormaybe in the country, where undergraduate students have this opportunity."

Caple is referring to PSU's new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument,which was purchased earlier this year with the assistance of a National ScienceFoundation grant and university support. The NMR, similar to MRI instruments usedin the health care field, gives students and faculty a powerful study and researchinstrument, particularly in the field of plastics and polymers.

A number of colleges and universities have NMR instruments, Caple said, butPSU's is more advanced than most.

"This is the most sophisticated solid state piece of equipment around," Caple said.Having hands-on experience with the new NMR gives students a real advantage

with employers who use this type of equipment, Caple said."Our goal is to expose students to the best instrumentation possible," Caple said.One reason the university pursued the NSF grant and invested university

resources in this particular piece of scientific equipment, Caple said, is theinstitution's expanding involvement in plastics and polymers research.

"With what's going on in plastics engineering technology at the KansasTechnology Center, the polymer researchers at the Business and TechnologyInstitute and the Chemistry Department and other related departments, this institutionis developing a real focus on plastics and polymers research," he said.

Caple is clearly proud that the sophisticated NMR instrument is accessible toundergraduate students. At other, larger institutions, undergraduates rarely have anopportunity to work on an NMR instrument.

"We can offer some unique opportunities for undergraduate students," Caple said."The NMR is one, but not the only example in which students, not technicians, areable to learn by using the equipment."

Caple said the acquisition of the NMR is evidence of the universityadministration's desire to "move forward and to stay ahead of the pack."

"Clearly, there are some nice things happening here," Caple said.

Arts & Sciencesauthors honored

Of the 12 authors honored forpublishing books at PSU's 15thannual Faculty Author Reception, sixwere from the College of Arts andSciences. The reception, sponsoredby the Division of LearningResources and the Friends ofLeonard H. Axe Library, was held onNov. 5, 1998.

Arts and Sciences faculty authorshonored were: Dr. Richard Davis,music, who wrote"A BeginningSinger's Guide;" Dr. MarjorieDonovan and Dr. Harry Humphries,social science/sociology, who wrote"Sociology: Relationships That Makea World;" Dr. Stephen Timme,biology, who published "A FieldGuide to Medicinal and Useful Plantsof the Upper Amazon;" Dr. DonaldWayne Viney, social science/philosophy, who edited "Questionsof Value: Beginning Readings forPhilosophy;" wrote "A Brief Guideto Logic and Critical Thinking forNonvulcans;" and published histranslation of Lequyer' s works,"Translation of Works of JulesLequyer;" and Dr. Kelly Woestrnan,history, who wrote "Instructor'sResource Manual (for) MakingAmerica: A History of the UnitedStates." Dr. Evan Hause, music, washonored for producing "Adventuresof Freddy," a compact disc forwhich he composed and performedthe music.

Cynthia Pfannenstiel, coordinatorof public services at Axe Library,said between 50 and 70 peopleattended the informal reception. Inaddition to the books and CD, 69articles, poems and reviews by 50faculty were on display. Fourteenauthors from the College of Arts andSciences were responsible for 27 ofthose 69 works.

For more information on theseauthors and their scholarlyendeavors, please visit Axe Library'sweb site: http://library.pittstate.edulfac-author/index.html.

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Page 4: New equipment improves planetarium show

Degree (from pg. 1)

to economics, crime, violence, youth,gender and race, and ethnicity.

"Each discipline has a role to play,".Cameron said. "We all contribute andeach member of the faculty bringstheir own specialty into the classroom.That's why I like it so much."

Many Department of SocialScience faculty· members workedon developing the Justice Studiescurriculum, including Drs. BradleyCameron, Marjorie Donovan,Harry Humphries, George Lord,Mark Peterson, Donald Viney, andPaul Zagorski.

In designing the new degree,Cameron surveyed police chiefs andsheriffs across the state. She askedthem what kinds of things theywanted students to learn on campusand she was pleasantly surprised bytheir response.

"Although most police chiefs inthe state do not have college degrees,"Cameron said, "they told me theywanted recruits who have a liberalarts degree. Hands-down, they saidthey wanted people with goodinterpersonal skills."

The degree is designed for personsinterested not only in law enforcementcareers, but also related careers,including the legal profession. Thosegoing into law enforcement with thisdegree will be more marketable,Cameron said.

Cameron graduated from PacificLutheran University with a bachelorof arts degree in Sociology andPhilosophy in 1986. That same yearshe was accepted into the newlyformed Ph.D. program in the Schoolof Justice Studies at Arizona StateUniversity, a highly selective doctoralprogram (only seven students wereinvited from throughout the U.S. asthe first Ph.D. class). For the next 10years, she raised two sons as a singlemother and worked with variouscommunity partnerships and wasemployed at the battered women'sshelter. In December of 1996 shecompleted her Ph.D. She came toPittsburg State University in 1997.

Kelly Mitts, Elementary Education major fromOlathe, helps a preschool student master softballduring a breakfor outdoor activities.

PSU Preschoolfills niche

The on-campus preschool atPittsburg State provides not only ahigh quality, valuable source ofeducation for young children, butalso an important laboratoryexperience for majors from boththe College of Education and theDepartment of Family andConsumer Sciences (FCS).

Currently, according to VickiWilbert, the director of thepreschool lab, there are about 154- and 5-year-olds enrolled in thepreschool. The children attendfrom 8:20-11:20 a.m. each day.

Wilbert said there are usuallyabout 18 student teachersinvolved with the preschool.

"At first I do all of the teachingand the students observe," Wilbertsaid. "Then we do some groupteaching and finally each studentteacher will teach."

A strong cooperative effortbetween Family and ConsumerSciences and Education means that students in the early childhood option of theFCS degree program as well as Education majors specializing in early childhoodeducation are required to take the FCS courses, "The Preschool Child" and"Preschool Laboratory."

Dr. Duane Whitbeck, a member of the FCS faculty and the person in charge ofthe early childhood program, said cooperation between the College of Educationand Family and Consumer Sciences helps students in both areas.

"Because we both educate students who are preparing to be early childhoodeducators it is important that we each lead with our strength as well ascommunicate with each other about the program we are offering students,"Whitbeck said. "Because my own background includes work in early childhoodeducation at both the birth-to-five and at the five-to-eight age levels, I would feelequally comfortable teaching in either department. This I think also builds acomfort level when talking about issues that effect both the departments and thestudents."

Whitbeck said that one example of the collaborative efforts between Educationand FCS is the formation of the Early Childhood Student Organization, which hasbeen involved with service to the community through providing child care toparents who attend Parents University in the fall. The organization providedinformational displays for the Week of the Young Child at the Pittsburg mall in thespring and it has brought in early childhood professionals to talk about workopportunities in the area and to share practices they are using in their employment.The two departments share the adviser responsibilities for the organization.

Whitbeck said there is a shortage of skilled child care and education workers inall areas of the country.

"Many are trained only with a CDA certification, which is merely the beginning

level," Whitbeck said. (see Preschool, pg. 8)

4

Page 5: New equipment improves planetarium show

History and Social Scienceprepare for moving day

Universitas Don Viney, Editor Ron Womble, Managing Editor

Universitas is published by the Dean's Office with assistance from the

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the 21st century," Ratzlaff said. "Thatincludes all kinds of things from a morecomfortable place to learn, better soundand a variety of instructional m~dia."

The first project to be completedunder .the program, Beyeler said, wasGrubbs Hall, which received ADAimprovements, including an elevator,and a new heating, ventilation and airconditioning system.

Not everyone may recognize a newheating and air conditioning system as aclassroom improvement, Beyeler said,but anyone who has taught or has been astudent in that building will recognize itas such.

The work in Whitesitt Hall is actuallya collection of about 11 projects,Beyeler said, but he classifies themgenerally as permanent, temporary orfire safety. The Whitesitt work will netthe university 10 permanent classroomsand 30 permanent offices, even after thecurrent occupants move back into RussHall sometime in 2000-200 I.

"We're looking at bidding R.uss Hallin mid-January," Beyeler said, "and theactual work will take almost two years."

Still on the drawing board is ADAand classroom work in McCray andKelce and "beyond that, there is ADAand classroom work to do in Yates Hall,the Library and Heckert-Wells."

In the end, Beyeler said, "there willbe some impact on virtually everyclassroom building on campus."

Although the Crumbling Classroomsinvestment is undeniably large, theneeds always seem to outstrip theresources, Beyeler said.

"As much as it was," Beyeler said,"It does not do a complete job in all thebuildings. We have a lot of other majorproblems that need to be addressed."

Soon it will be moving day for theSocial Science and History departments.Since last summer, Russ Hall has slowlyemptied in anticipation of theremodeling of PSU's oldest building.The first office to move to temporaryquarters in Whitesitt was the President'sOffice. Most administrative offices havefollowed as space has become ready.

Social Science and History will beginthe spring semester in Russ Hall andwill move with their classes intorenovated space in Whitesitt in themiddle of the semester.

"Without a doubt, it's going to betight, getting all of us into WhitesittHall, but the Physical Plant and thecontractors have done a good job ofgetting this building ready for us," saidVice President for Academic AffairsRobert Ratzlaff. "We can handle this forthe two years that it will take to remodelRuss Hall and when we move back,Whitesitt will remain as very goodacademic space."

The Russ Hall and Whitesittimprovements are part of a largerstatewide initiative to improveuniversity classrooms. A Board ofRegents plan known as CrumblingClassrooms will invest more than $17million in academic buildings on thePSU campus over the next several years.

Kerry Beyeler, director of FacilitiesPlanning, said those projects include:Grubbs Hall, $1.74 million; HughesHall, $1 million; Russ Hall, $7.35million; Whitesitt Hall, $1.3 million;McCray and Kelce, $900,000; and Yatesand Heckert-Wells, still undetermined.

Ratzlaff said the classroomimprovements are closely tied toacademics.

"We have to create classrooms forI1

JJ

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Page 6: New equipment improves planetarium show

After work and on weekends, the only recreation is "solvingthe world's problems" at iriformal clubs where people passaround the home-made corn beer called "pombe. "

John Couper learns the basics ofcooking"mbaazi, " a kind of wild pea, with a respectedvillage elder named Asha.

photography by John Couper

When the only water supply for thevillage ofllakala is a spring, water mustbe carried as much as three miles twicea day.

John Couper, a PSU alumnus, is a member of the Communication Departmentfaculty. His series, "Voices From an African Village," including text photosand Real Audio, is available at the KRPS website at: <www.krps.org/>.

It takes a village to educate a GorillaJohn Couper watched little Abramu prepare for his fust day of school. The

boy was excited about his new haircut, clean clothes and school supplies, andfull of questions and expectations as his brother, Ben, teased him and hismother, Imakulata, fussed over him. Though these preparations remindedCouper of his own first school day, h~ saw many differences: Abramu's homeis made of mud and grass, he has no shoes and, after school, he rushes home tohelp grow the family "groceries."

Couper, a Pittsburg State University instructor of mass communication, lefthis Joplin home to live beside Abramo and 1,300 other members of thecommunity called Ilakala in the East African nation of Tanzania. Couper wasthere to gather data about how people learn about and understand the world.During almost a year in the village, he also gathered many new friendships andideas about how people are similar and different in places that seem to havelittle in common.

"People in Hakala earn from $15 to $200 a year, much less thanthe dollar a day the U.N. calls absolute poverty," says Couper."Even so, like Americans they do what they can to improve life fortheir families, using the resources they have: sweat, a sense ofhumor, and problem-solving genius. There aren't store-bought toysor televisions in Ilakala, so kids make all their own toys andentertainment."

Couper enjoyed many parts of village life. The food was freshand tasty, the air clean, and people depended on themselves andeach other. However, he missed being able to check whethersomeone was at home before arriving for a visit, turning on a tap fordrinkable water, and buying something without negotiating a price.

"The easiest way to imagine how people live in Hakala is tothink about the pioneers who settled the Midwest: self-sufficient,inventive, and mutually dependant," Couper noted.

Couper is sorry that most Americans think of Africa as littlemore than a place of war, disease, and famine. To help correct thisdistorted picture, he produced a weekly radio series that exploredeveryday life in Hakala. The series, "Voices from an African Village," aired weeklyon KRPS, PSU's public radio station, for 15 weeks this spring. KRPS also gave Couperpart of their Web site (www.krps.com). where people anywhere in the world can seepictures and explanations about each of the 15 radio programs. Visitors can even listento segments about healthcare, food, homes, news, and other parts of daily life in one ofthe poorest places of the world. Couper is also selling tapes with all 15 segments.

Couper said he encountered a lot of drama in village life."Most people have terrible problems, especially disease. When I was there, a

villager was eaten by a lion, and poisonous snakes were common. But even in thistough place to live, life isn't miserable. People laugh all the time, and make tremendousfriends and parents. Americans should also realize that the foreign aid we send there ismuch less than the money Tanzanians send to the U.S. banks and corporations." .

Sitting in his Grubbs Hall office, Couper insists that "in a similar way, Abramu andthe other people in Hakala gave me a lot more than I was able to give them. I hope thatAmericans can learn how much Africa can offer us."

6

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Military Science.increasesrecruitment efforts

The PSU Military ScienceDepartment has increased itsrecruiting efforts across the state andspecifically at community colleges.

LTC Mark Johnson, departmentchairperson, said the heightenedefforts arealready payingdividends.

"We will havemore than 10new studentsenrolling for thespring semester,"Johnson said."These students

will be taking • LTC Mark JohnsonROTC classesand are eager to get to work earningtheir commissions as U.S. Armyofficers."

Johnson said the recruitment effortdoes more than increase enrollment atthe university.

"This gives more students theopportunity to become officers in theU.S. Army. It helps them developleadership and confidence skills thatserve them the rest of their lives and itproduces leaders in American society,which is what our program is allabout," Johnson said.

Johnson has another goal for thesummer -- to set a national record forthe number of students from oneuniversity that are sent to ArmyROTC summer camp, a 35-day campheld at Fort Knox, Ky. Currently, thatrecord (25) is held by California StateUniversity at Fullerton. Johnsonbelieves Pittsburg State has a verygood chance of beating the Cal Statemark. Currently, there are more than100 students in ROTC.

Making a Gift toPittsburg State University

Through Your EstateMost of us would like to make a difference - to dosomething that would make our world a better place.You can make a difference. Your contributions toPittsburg State University, to our future, make astatement about you. Why not continue that supportthrough your estate plan?

Consider a bequest. Gifts through your will can be a particularitem or a percentage of your estate. They can be contingent(passing to PSU only if another beneficiary dies before you) orin trust, providing income to your spouse or children beforepassing for our benefit.

Give life insurance. You can name Pittsburg State as thebeneficiary of a policy on your life or contribute an old policythat you no longer need.

Leave financial accounts. You can indicate that savings, CD'sor other financial accounts - including IRA's - will be payable toPSU upon your death. Ask the account custodian for details.Bequests of IRA's save significant taxes.

,Include PSU in your revocable trust. Lifetime trusts(revocable living trusts) are popular for many reasons. Theyrelieve the property owner of management responsibilities,reduce probate costs, afford privacy and can be changedwithout the formalities of a will. You can include PSU as abeneficiary of your revocable trust.

Whether you already have an estate plan or are just thinkingabout one, it is always a good time to review your objectives andmake the plan work for you. If you have any questions regardingany of these giving options or need any assistance, contact:

George O. Pickell,Associate Director of Planned Giving and Major Gifts

Pittsburg State University Office of Development401 E. Ford Avenue, Pittsburg, KS 66762-7518

telephone: 316/235-4863.

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No newsisn't alwaysgood news'

Please drop us a line andlet us know about your

latest endeavors.

Mail to:Newsletter Editor,

UniversitasPublic Relations Office

Pittsburg State University·1701 South Broadway

Pittsburg, KS 66762-7575

Name _

Degree Yr. Grad.

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"The PSU Alumni Association iscompiling a list of veterans.

Your help is appreciated.

Preschool (from pg. 4)

He said PSU students who are alsoparents are a good example of the needfor more skilled child care and educationworkers.

"Students on campus are constantlyjuggling their schedules and those oftheir children to provide adequate care.and educational opportunities. Thesechildren need the best start possible,"Whitbeck said.

Nationally, according to Whitbeck,only about 11 percent of infant careprograms and only about 17 percent ofpreschool programs are considered to beof high quality.

"It is not just an issue of needingmore workers," Whitbeck said, "but alsoof continuing to train those entry levelpeople to improve their skills."

Whitbeck said that although thequality of the instruction in PSU'spreschool laboratory is high, somefacility improvements need to take placein order to satisfy requirements foraccreditation through the NationalAcademy of Early Childhood Programs.

"The one area we are lacking is anadequate playground facility," Whitbecksaid. "For over 20 years the labs haveused the grassy area between HartmanHall and Chandler Hall. This includesdodging students on the way to and fromclasses, service vehicles, and the normalcampus activity. It also means we arenot able to have adequate climbing andactivity structures. Changes on campusmay make it possible to haveplayground space near our building andwe have submitted a proposal to have aplayground built when that spacebecomes available. The next need willbe for financing the equipment."

Pittsburg State UniversityCollege of Arts and Sciences1701 South BroadwayPittsburg, Kansas 66762-7531

Alumni NewsClass of '57Elizabeth Bain Huddleson - completed amaster's degree in library and informationscience at San Jose State University andbegan teaching music classes forElderhostel in Santa Barbara, Calif. Ms.Huddleson belonged to the Sigma AlphaIota music fraternity when she was at PittState (then KSTC) and would enjoyhearing from former classmates. Her e-mailaddress is [email protected] orthey may write to her at P.O. Box 943,Goleta, Calif. 93116.

Class of '75Catherine (Slattery) Rhyne - is currentlythe chief nursing officer at Alaska RegionalHospital in Anchorage, Alaska. Catherinehas one son, Eric, who is 22.

Class of '87Kevin Ray - is a sports talk show host andcommentator for All Sports-KMVP-860 AMin Phoenix, ·Ariz. He hosts the morningshow with Ron Wolfley and does ArizonaState University football pre- and post­game shows as well as play-by-play forASU women's basketball. He and his wife,Marci, have a daughter, Devon.

Class of '91Joy Clumsky - is an English teacher atLawrence High School, where she teachescreative writing, American Literature I andAmerican Literature II. She is also anaward-winning writer. Ms. Clumsky won theEditor's Choice Award from the PoetryGuild for a poem she wrote, first place from"Kansas Voices" for a short story and firstand second place prizes for freelancepoetry from the Kansas Authors Club. Shewas named a Distinghished Teacher by theUniversity of Kansas. Mrs. Clumsky ismarried to Dr. Monte Clumsky, a dentistand implant surgeon. They have onedaughter, Monique.

Class of '96Kelly (Katzer) Hinton - is a clinicalcaseworker assistant in Nevada, Mo. Sheis married to Eric Hinton.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 506

Pittsburg, KS 66762


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