New Jackrabbit mascot unveiled this morning

The long process of gathering opinions and designs for a new Jackrabbit mascot ended this morning with the unveiling of the new Jack. The image’s sleek lines and intense look make a striking mascot that represents SDSU well.

One of the goals designer Craig Whitlock said that he and his brother Cory had for their winning jackrabbit image was to be true to its look – ears, feet, awarenss and speed – while incorporating the “pride, honor and determination” of SDSU’s 125-plus year history.

Whitlock and his brother create out of their firm, Mongoose Graphics, in Denver developing corporate school and organization designs. The South Dakota natives grew up in Spearfish.

A second design was selected when a shortened version of the mascot is needed. Tony Horning, a Minneapolis graphic designer with numerous family connections to SDSU, created a wordmark of the word Jack’s incorporating distinctive rabbit ears and tail.

Café NFA to begin offering meals

The kick off date for Cafe NFA is today, Feb. 19. Lunch will be served every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Java City on the second floor of NFA. The meals offer a culturally diverse assortment of foods prepared, served, and managed by the Quantity Foods Class.

The cost of the meals is $7.25. Meals will not be served on March 11, March 18, March 20, and March 25. For reservations, call 688-5656.

Donor Auditorium to host Calculus the Musical

“Calculus: the Musical” is coming to Donor Auditorium Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The musical is a production of a Minneapolis duo who illustrate math formulas and rules to music.

Creator and former math teacher Marc Gutman found his students learned better when concepts were put to recognizable tunes. The show includes parodies of songs by The Beatles, Gilbert & Sullivan, Madonna, Petula Clark and even Eminem.

The show is sponsored by the Math Department and University Program Council.

For more information, contact Donna Flint, 688-6203, or Dan Kemp at 688-6214.

Professional actor, Sadie Bowman, helps illustrate math concepts to audiences in song as part of “Calculus: the Musical.”

TRiO Day to honor program and its many services

TRiO Day will be celebrated Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. at the SDSU Alumni Center with recognition and refreshments.

The celebration will include talks by Tim Nichols, assistant director of academic programs in the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences; Dave Munson, mayor of Sioux Falls; Marysz Rames, vice president of Student Affairs; and current TRiO participants.

Nichols has spoken to a number student groups about the programs and has collaborated on summer Upward Bound opportunities. Munson will address the impact Upward Bound has had on Sioux Falls high schools.

Proclamations from the offices of Senators Tim Johnson and John Thune, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, and Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman will also be presented.

TRiO programs have provided services on the SDSU campus to more than 625 students since their arrival. Student Support Services started in 2001 and Upward Bound began in 2003.

For more information, contact Carla.Anderson@sdstate.edu.

Free help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student aid)

SDSU Financial Aid, TRiO SSS and the Wintrode Tutoring Program will offer all students free help completing the 2008-2009 FAFSA at the Wintrode Student Success Center, south of Crothers Engineering Hall.

Three help sessions will be held, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2:30-4:30 pm, or 6:30-8:30 pm, and Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2:30-4:30 pm.

Students need their Personal Identification Number (PIN) and 2007 tax information. If they are not an independent student, they should bring their parents’ 2007 tax information and their PIN.

For questions, call Mike Niles 605-688-6892, or visit SDSU Financial Aid, Administration Building room 106.

Behrend’s Fine Dining Concept offers first menu

Behrend’s Fine Dining Concept has its first menu of 2008. The meal is at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 in NFA 440. The seven-course meal costs $29.

Students will be guided in the kitchen by Chef John Gilbertson, formerly of Tailfeathers in Oldham, and now the executive chef of Sanford Health Systems.

To reserve a seat call 688-5656. Seating is limited to 25 guests. For more information, contact Lee Frantz, 688-4050, or lee.frantz@sdstate.edu.

World premiere production in Performing Arts Center

Students hit the theatrical stage with the world premiere of “Group,” a new musical written by SDSU alumni and Brookings residents Aaron Toronto and Heidi Grimsley.

The show runs from Feb. 27 through March 1 and March 5 through March 8 at 7:30 p.m. A matinee performance will be held March 1 at 2 p.m. All performances are in the Fishback Studio Theatre in the Performing Arts Center.

The all-new musical takes a look at group therapy and attempts to give comical insight into some very serious issues.

“Group” follows world-renown psychologist Dr. Bloom and his group of eccentric therapy patients. Together, they attempt to overcome some of life’s greatest obstacles, including the anxiety of overcoming those obstacles.

The idea for the musical finds its roots in Toronto’s time completing a master’s degree in counseling at SDSU. The script is a creative culmination of what he learned during that time about group therapy.

Admission is free for SDSU students with an ID. Adult tickets are $16. Faculty and staff tickets are $10, and non-SDSU students and child tickets are $9.

Advanced reservations are encouraged. Tickets are available by contacting the State University Theatre, 688-6045, or online at http://sdstate.tix.com.

The cast for the musical “Group” includes top left, Will Reinbold, Emily Humke, Nick Castillo and Nolan Hayes. Bottom left are Cristina Harty, Gavin Nachtigall and Kate Wismer.

Harding lecture describes Afghan women after the Taliban

Nasrine Gross, an Afghan-American woman activist and author working to assure women’s rights in her native Afghanistan, will deliver the Harding Distinguished Lecture Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Larson Concert Hall of the Performing Arts Center.

Her lecture, “Afghan Women after the Taliban: Liberated or Terrified?,” is co-sponsored by the South Dakota Council on World Affairs. She has lived in Afghanistan since 2001 where she works to promote women’s rights.

“Since 2001, Afghanistan has done great things for rehabilitating itself,” wrote Gross on the website, www.kabultec.org. “We now have a democratic constitution with equal rights for men and women. We are very proud to have an elected president and an elected parliament with about 500 members, 91 of whom are women.”

She says, however, that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda have made a comeback. Gross feels that the international community must stay in Afghanistan to lessen the influence of extremists.

The Harding Distinguished Lecture Series was established to honor early South Dakota State College history, economics, and political science professor Albert S. Harding who believed it was important for students to hear speakers outside of South Dakota.

For more information, contact Tom Stenvig, 688-6652, or Harriet Swedlund, 688-5416.

Nasrine Gross will speak about her work supporting women’s rights in Afghanistan as the Harding Distinguished Lecturer.

Art Museum host site for DVAGI reception

A $10 chance for a trip to New York City is up for grabs, thanks to a raffle by SDSU’s collaborative Design and Visual Arts Group Inc. (DVAGI).

The raffle drawing will take place at a reception in the South Dakota Art Museum beginning at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 29. The drawing takes place at 8 p.m., with a limited number of tickets available. Tickets cost $25 and include one raffle ticket.

The prize package includes airfare for four from any airport in the continental U.S., hotel accommodations and $500 in spending money.

Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased at Tuli, HyVee Floral Department, Hagmans Bakery, Cottonwood Coffee, Trendz, and Sunflower Salon and Spa in Brookings.

Reception festivities include wine, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. The event will also feature a silent auction complete with original artwork, design and chocolate creations.

DVAGI is dedicated to raising public awareness of design and providing travel opportunities for students in the SDSU departments of Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design; Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks; and Visual Arts.

Over the past three years, DVAGI has contributed more than $45,000 toward travel scholarships that allow SDSU students to broaden their educational experience in places like Australia, Bolivia, Egypt, England, Germany, New York City, Chicago, and other cultural hotspots.

To reserve event tickets, purchase additional raffle tickets or for more information, contact Shianne, 688-5196.

Nutrition seminar focuses on “Hot Topics & Controversies”

“Hot Topics & Controversies in Nutrition” provides the theme for the 25th annual nutrition seminar March 10-12. Registration deadline is Feb. 25.

Frank Rauch from Shriners Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, will give the Ethel Austin Martin Distinguished Lecture titled “Importance of Diet & Activity in Bone Growth.”

Rauch’s research is in children’s bone development, genetic brittle bones, and musculoskeletal interaction.

The Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Hospitality is hosting the event to bring together renowned experts talking about important topics and controversies in nutrition.

For more information, contact Chanda Walter, 688-5161. For program schedule visit http://nfsh.sdstate.edu/Nutrition_Seminar/Nutrition_Seminar.html

Faculty, grad students encouraged to attend Tech Transfer Workshop series

After a successful first workshop Feb. 6, three more workshops on tech transfer and commercialization are being planned.

Department heads, faculty, active investigators and graduate students are urged to attend the next three workshops at The Union in room 153 from 3-5 p.m. on March 12, April 9, and April 30.

Much of the subject matter will be the domain expertise of the tech transfer professional.

Bill Gibbons, professor of biology and microbiology, was one of the attendees at the first workshop.

“This technology transfer workshop series will open the eyes of our researchers to the potential commercial applications of their research,” he said. “More importantly, SDSU's technology transfer system will provide researchers with the information, guidance, and assistance they need to protect and commercialize their research findings.

“I'm confident that as our researchers come to understand and embrace this technology transfer system, we will be amazed at the number and diversity of innovations that arise from SDSU's broad portfolio of research,” added Gibbons.

Topics covered in the workshops include the following:
• Characteristics of best-of-class tech transfer.
• Attributes of good invention disclosure.
• Role of investigators in invention disclosure development and practice drafting disclosures.
• Learning from feedback of screening and evaluation of an invention disclosure.
• IP protection, prosecution process and the inventor’s role.
• Marketing protected technologies.
• Pathway from lab to market of inventions and the off-ramps of licensing.

President David L. Chicoine and Graduate School Dean and Vice President for Research Kevin Kephart presented the Feb. 6 workshop. The session gave an overview of the management of intellectual property and pathways to commercialization. It addressed policies, procedures, and processes for actions associated with intellectual property and its commercialization, ranging from disclosures to execution of a license.

For more information on the workshops, contact Bob Otterson, 688-4165, Robert.Otterson@sdstate.edu; or Kevin Kephart, 688-4181, Kevin.Kephart@sdstate.edu.

SDSU Calendar of Events

This calendar is prepared by the Office of University Relations. For more information, to have campus events included in the next calendar, or to make address corrections, please contact April Clarin at University Relations, SCM 105, Box 2230, (605) 688-6161, or by email at april.clarin@sdstate.edu. Thank you.

Teaching and Technology Expo at Union

Instructional Design Services and the Teaching Learning Center will hold a Teaching and Technology Expo Feb. 20-21 at The Union in Room 167.

Sponsored by Academic Affairs and Chief Information Technology Office, the expo will consist of twelve 50-minute sessions running concurrently.

For details, contact 688-6312 (http://ids.sdstate.edu/about/expo/) or 688-6413 (http://tlc.sdstate.edu).

Faculty trumpet recital features other professional musicians

Alan Taylor, professor of music and assistant director of bands, will present a faculty trumpet recital in Peterson Recital Hall Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Taylor will be accompanied by John Walker, director of keyboard studies.

The program will begin with a concerto by Johann Altenburg for seven trumpets and timpani. Taylor will be joined on trumpet by David Reynolds, head of the music department, Nathan Bleeker, band director at Adrian, Minn. Schools, and four SDSU music students. Timpani will be played by Aaron Ragsdale, assistant professor of percussion and assistant director of bands.

The recital includes works by German and Australian composers along with an arrangement of the famous “Carnival of Venice” with all its variations.

John Ginocchio, director of bands at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn., will join Taylor to perform a duet for trumpet and trombone.

The recital concludes with the famous prince of Denmark’s march, “Trumpet Voluntary” for seven trumpets and timpani.

Alan Taylor presents a trumpet recital with other musicians Thursday evening.

Percussion recital includes work of contemporary composers

Assistant Music Professor Aaron Ragsdale will present a faculty recital of contemporary solo percussion works Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Peterson Recital Hall at the Lincoln Music Center.

His program features music by living composers written expressly for percussion instruments, including the marimba, snare drum, and vibraphone.

Performances of Japanese and American composers on the marimba as well as a solo snare drum piece by an Icelandic composer will make up the recital. A concluding marimba piece includes student members of the Percussion Ensemble.

Perhaps the most unusual composition presented is a collection called “…for John Cage,” a series of pieces for “prepared vibraphone.” The preparation includes adding material to the instrument’s keys, including sleighbells, paper, wood, and metal washers.

Ragsdale came to SDSU after completing his doctoral studies at Rutgers.

Aaron Ragsdale will give his percussion recital next Monday evening.

SDSU plans for second annual Entrepreneurship Week

The second annual Entrepreneurship Week at SDSU kicks off Feb. 25 with Sumaya Kazi giving the keynote address “For the Young, Driven, and Forward-Thinking.” Her talk begins at 7 p.m. at in the Volstorff Ballroom at The Union.

Kazi has gained respect as a global entrepreneur at the CulturalConnect.com, a media company publishing five weekly e-magazines dedicated to young entrepreneurial adults around the world.

Businesses and governmental agencies will host booths at the “Entrepreneurship Resource Fair” in The Union Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas at the “Idea Competition Finals” from 11-11:50 a.m. in room 103. Prizes include three $500 cash awards and two scholarships for entrepreneurship courses courtesy of the Brookings Economic Development Corporation.

Entrepreneurship Week events move to the Enterprise Institute Feb. 27. After an open house from 1–3 p.m., Gary Archambouldt, director of the Small Business Innovation Research and the Small Business Technology Transfer programs speaks at 3 p.m.

Students, faculty, and entrepreneurs can attend “Launch ’08: SD Entrepreneurship Education Conference” in Mitchell from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 28. The conference features educator and student tracks focusing on advancing entrepreneurship in South Dakota.

For more information, contact Barb Heller, 688-6522, Barb.Heller@sdstate.edu. Visit entr.sdstate.edu for more information on the events or to register for the Mitchell event.

Sumaya Kazi, 25, works as a marketing manager for the Global communications Group at Sun Microsystems.

Next Brown Bag Lecture Series has evening program

The 20th annual Brown Bag Lecture Series, sponsored by the Agricultural Heritage Museum, presents the films, “The Plow that Broke the Plains” and “The River” Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Dairy-Microbiology room 100.

Written and directed by Pare Lorentz, both films were made by the U.S. government to promote President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

Released in 1936, “The Plow…” tells of the millions of grassy acres sprawled between Texas and Canada on the Great Plains showing how great prosperity and progress eventually left the land over-grazed and over-farmed becoming a parched, cracked Dust Bowl.

“The River,” released in 1937, describes the growth of trade and travel along the Mississippi River, where booming farming, lumber, iron, coal, and steel industries stripped the surrounding land of its soil, leading to disastrous flooding.

Discussion of the films will be lead by History Professor Charles Vollan.

An evening program will show black and white films as part of the Ag Heritage Museums brown bag lecture series.

West Hall to host Brown Bag classes, group sessions

Student Health and Counseling Services will be sponsoring Brown Bag “classes” during the spring semester at West Hall in room 103. Bring your own lunch and learn the following:

Feb. 19, noon - “Breaking up is hard to do: tips on getting through a break-up.”
Feb. 27, noon - “Party hearty-party healthy: how to have fun without binge drinking.”
March 6, noon – “Life happens: class on managing stress.”

The following group sessions will also be available in room 103:
Feb. 26-April 8, 10-11:30 a.m. – “Learning to trust: a path group for survivors of trauma.”
Feb. 26-April 8, 3-4 p.m. – “Affirming self: a group designed to increase self esteem.”
Feb. 28-April 10, 1-2 p.m. – “Good grief: a group designed to assist in the recovery from loss.”

For more information, contact Student Health and Counseling Services, 688-6146.

Career Service Advisory Council has positions

There are four positions available on the Career Service Advisory Council. Elections will be held late February and early March with new members beginning their term on the council in April.

Positions available are: medical and technical services representative, maintenance and security representative, custodial services representative, and administrative and clerical representative.

For more information, contact Mary Kidwiler, 688-5133, or Mary.Kidwiler@sdstate.edu.

Resources and information available at tax time

Now that tax time is here, volunteer assistance and information is available, according to Liz Gorham, an Extension family resource management specialist at SDSU.

“Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for persons with low to moderate income, along with Tax Counseling for the Elderly for persons 60 and older, are found across South Dakota,” said Gorham. “Many are equipped to provide electronic filing services if that is your preference. Individuals should not hesitate to use these services.”

For more information, contact Liz Gorham, 688-4035.

News on Newsline

To publicize an event or congratulations on “Newsline,” please submit information by the preceding Thursday at 2 p.m. to Kyle Johnson kyle.johnson@sdstate.edu or Jeanne Jones Manzer jeanne.jonesmanzer@sdstate.edu

Position Announcements

The Board of Regents has implemented PeopleAdmin for SDSU and all institutions within the BOR system. Vacancies are posted on the shared, Online Employment System. Applications are accepted electronically.

For more information regarding current SDSU job postings and the on-line employment process, visit http://yourfuture.sdbor.edu [External Hyperlink].